Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

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All About Me Topic Booklist

Best ‘All About Me’ Books for Children

Celebrate individuality with our list of the best children’s books to support an ‘All About Me’ or ‘Ourselves’ topic for EYFS and KS1 – a popular topic in classrooms as children learn more about themselves and others.

Each child is unique from the tips of their toes to the end of their nose – with different hobbies, feelings, hairstyles, eye colour, cultural heritages or body shapes.

Whether you want EYFS and KS1 All About Me books celebrating individuality like Super Duper You and Can I Build Another Me or stories about wonderful growing bodies like Measuring Me and Hair Love, we’ve got this All About Me topic covered with this booklist. We’ve also included stories celebrating difference and diversity, including Hats of Faith and All Are Welcome.

Our booklist features recommended All About Me children’s books to help children understand more about their bodies and to positively celebrate the similarities and differences individuals encounter as they find their place within their communities.

Celebrating Science

Celebrating Science Booklist

We’ve put together a list of our top recommended children’s books that celebrate science! We have hand-picked the best children’s science books that examine key concepts from biology, chemistry and physics – as well as stories that explore scientific thinking and shine a spotlight on famous (and not-so-famous) scientists.

Oceans & Seas Topic (KS2)

Oceans and Seas Topic Booklist

Welcome to the Blue Abyss topic! Spanning aspects of Geography and Science, the topic of oceans and seas is a popular one in primary schools. At KS2, children learn about the physical features of the sea, layers of the ocean, sea explorers, ocean habitats, marine wildlife and the theme of pollution.

Dive into stories about creatures of the deep like The Lost Whale and Song of the Dolphin Boy, explore coral reefs in The Brilliant Deep or take a plunge into an inspiring non-fiction book about the sea like Atlas of Ocean Adventures or the beautifully illustrated Oceanarium, which is sure to inspire the next generation of budding marine biologists.

From whales and whelks to shipwrecks and sharks, we’ve got the topic covered with our curated collection of the best children’s books about oceans and seas.

NB: This booklist is aimed at KS2 (ages 7-11). If you are looking for KS1 or EYFS books about the sea, we have a separate Under the Sea booklist here.

Under the Sea Topic

Under the Sea Topic Booklist (EYFS & KS1)

Dive into the Under the Sea topic and make a splash – there’s so much to explore! From crabs and coral reefs to shorelines and sharks, we’ve got it all covered in our hand-picked selection of the best children’s books about oceans and seas for children in EYFS and KS1.

NB: This booklist is aimed at children aged 4-7. For sea-themed books for older children, try our Oceans and Seas KS2 list.

Frozen Worlds Topic

The Best Children’s Books About Frozen Worlds

Brrr! Our recommended children’s books feature stories that will whisk you away to icy landscapes and frozen worlds. Look out for exciting polar expeditions, adventures of ice queens and curious penguins…

If you are looking for stories set in polar regions, we’ve found the best children’s books for this topic. Dive into picturebooks about arctic explorers like Ernest Shackleton or The Great Explorer or heartwarming stories of animals surviving in polar habitats like The Emperor’s Egg or The Rainbow Bear. Our Review Panel has selected top educational books about the science and ecology of frozen worlds, like the large-format stunning non-fiction book Iceberg or Nicola Davies’ Emperor of the Ice.

You’ll also find chapter books featuring exciting adventure stories of friendship and survival in extreme conditions, like The Polar Bear Explorer’s Club or one of our very favourites, The Last Bear.

Our list of books will take your readers on a journey to the Arctic, Antarctic and imaginary frozen worlds too. Whether it’s penguins and polar bears or snow and ice, chart a new expedition into these recommended stories.

Houses and Homes Topic Booklist

Houses and Homes Topic Booklist

There’s no place like home! Houses and homes come in all shapes and sizes, from caravans and houseboats to apartments and cabins. Whether you are looking at cities, towns or villages, our selection of recommended children’s books about houses and homes will help primary school children to build the best foundations for understanding the topic.

Transport and Travel Topic Booklist

Best Children’s Books about Transport and Journeys

Toot toot! Beep beep! All Aboard! From buses and bicycles to ferries and flying machines, zoom into the vehicles and ‘things that go’ topic with our hand-picked selection of the best children’s books about transport and journeys.

From recommended children’s books about cars like Mr Gumpy’s Motor Car and train stories like the all-join-in classic The Runaway Train to superfun stories about journeys through the skies like Emma Jane’s Aeroplane and Balloon to the Moon, we’ve got stories on this list to whisk you away on all sorts of adventures. You’ll also find on this primary booklist non-fiction books about transport like William Bee’s Wonderful World of Things That Go!, which is always popular with vehicle-loving children in EYFS and KS1.

So hop on board and be prepared for a fun reading adventure into the world of transport and vehicles…

Seaside Topic

Best Children’s Books about the Seaside

Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside, oh I do like to be beside the sea! The UK has one of the longest coastlines in the whole of Europe and every home in the UK lies 80 miles or less from the coast. That might be why the seaside has become such a popular topic in primary schools, especially in KS1 and EYFS! This booklist of recommended children’s books about the seaside has been curated to help teachers and parents looking for the best seaside-themed children’s books.

From seaside holidays in the past to rockpools and riptides, there’s plenty to learn about with a seaside theme and we’ve put together a list of recommended children’s books to help you to dig deeper into the seaside topic. From A First Book of the Sea to Sharing a Shell, grab your beach towel and get ready to dive into a good book!

United Kingdom (UK Countries) Topic Booklist

Best Children’s Books about the Countries of the United Kingdom

England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland too…these are the UK countries! Take a trip around the United Kingdom, from forests and highlands to rivers and cities. In primary schools, children learn to name and locate the countries of the United Kingdom and learn about the history and geography of the UK.

Whether you’re looking for famous landmarks, capital cities, regional specialities or UK maps, we’ve got the topic covered with our list of the best children’s books about the United Kingdom. Take a trip to England’s capital city with Paddington’s London Treasury, journey to Scotland to visit Katie Morag, or discover non-fiction about Belfast or Wales. We highly recommend the beautifully illustrated The Big Book of the UK and the non-fiction classic A Street Through Time.

This primary booklist is designed to help younger pupils learn about the UK through stories and non-fiction children’s books.

USA Topic

USA Topic Booklist

Get ready for a road trip across the USA! Take in the sights and sounds of America, from skyscrapers and statues to canyons and coastlines. Learn about the varied geography of the 50 states of America, influential people from history and native American folklore. We’ve got the topic covered with our handpicked selection of recommended children’s books for the USA topic.